My granddad had a saying about this time of year “The day gets longer by a crow’s step every day.”
Image courtesy of clker.com
Here on the the wet, misty wintry west coast of Ireland, it is dark when I leave the house to go to work in the morning. It is dark again by the time I get home from work in the evening. Some days it even stays dark all day, if the clouds are low and heavy enough. But the crow’s step gives me hope.
When I was a kid I had lots of questions about that saying. Did granddad mean the days got longer by a crow’s step measured in time or measured in distance on the ground?! And how did the days get longer anyway? And why? And how are the crows involved? Regardless of those endless questions, and my confusion, the days got longer. And things haven’t changed.
Once the shortest day (December 21st) passes, things change imperceptibly but change they do. Already the afternoons are a little brighter. Every day I leave work for a few minutes just before 5pm to go to the post office. This week there is just the tiniest chink of light on the horizon at 5pm. A sign of the brightness to come. By the middle of February I will be leaving work in daylight.
Roll on Springtime!!
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Project Optimism
After a little blog hopping recently I stumbled upon Anka’s blog and Project Optimism. Basically Anka is encouraging us bloggers to post something optimistic and happy on Mondays. To get the week off to a good start.
I liked the sound of that idea, so I’ve decided to join Anka and lots of others in being positive on Mondays. I had this post planned for today anyway and it fits perfectly, don’t you think?
I will make a point of posting something optimistic on Mondays as well. I believe I did that today without realizing it. Thank you.
Optimism is always good especially during these dark winter days.
I’m looking forward to longer, brighter days too. Yay for optimism!
Ellie, this post fits perfectly indeed! You managed to zero in on the tiniest trace of light in the horizon. Instead of wishing for a brighter skyline, you rested in the HOPE you already found. Beautiful my friend!
I love the crow’s step! I will have to ask my parent’s if they remember hearing that expression. Happy Monday!
Lovely feel-good post, Ellie: and I was thinking just the same about the other end of today, where the sky is velvet blue instead of black at 5pm. Can’t wait till Spring.
My geography class in the USA has been tracking the amount of daylight since September. Each week we note the sunrise and sunset and calculate the amount ot time in between. Last week we added 12 minutes! We are at 42N latitude and I suspect you are much higher so you probably added more! Have a great day and keep the Mondays postive!
This is really beautiful!!! What a great perspective on dark and cold! Thanks for playing along with Project Optimism